I’m sorry for my absence. I’m fading away, I fear.
However, there has been some progress with the Spring Shawl.
I have now embarked on row 30 (of 150) and feel I am getting into the swing of
it – or maybe the last couple of rows have been unusually easy. I get the
idea, from the first 20 stitches or so, and can then stop peering anxiously at the
chart.
Here’s a picture from earlier today:
Perdita is sitting on the centre triangle – which has that
wide mesh edging. Below that, scarcely more than a frill, is the border-to-date:
arithmetic assures us that it is 1/6 of the total.
I wish I could audit your chart class, Mary Lou. It seems
extraordinary to me that anybody has difficulty with charts. Jamieson and Smith
used to sell – I hope they still do – a pamphlet with a tremendously Fifties
look, with patterns for several fancy lace scarves and shawls. They are all
written out stitch by stitch, meticulously proof-read. I’ve knit at least one
of them, and found that the only possible way to do it was to chart it, row by
row.
When did charts come in?
When did charts come in?
Yesterday – a great event – Kristie and Kath came to see me,
and we all tottered out (I tottered, they supported me) to a nearby pub for
supper. It was with them that I went to Shetland (in 2013? some such date) and
we stayed at Burrastow and went to see Muckle Flugga and had a grand time.
Latterly, they have been walking the West Highland Way. Kath, the non-knitter,
took a picture of me and Kristie which I trust I will be able to post to you
soon. We bitterly regretted on the way home that we hadn’t asked our nice
waiter to take a picture of all three.
We scarcely knew each other, when we went to Shetland. We
met on-line, and had had lunch together once. I have the fondest memory of
sitting next to the appropriate departure gate -- the departure gate for Shetland -- and seeing them walking down the
airport corridor towards me.
Non-knit
I’ve finished “The
Duke’s Children”, including a bit of speed-reading through the later political
bits. I loved Lord Popplecourt. His social ineptitude almost rivals that of Mr
Rushworth in “Mansfield Park”.
What about "Wives and Daughters"? I can't remember if you read that earlier, but I would certainly recommend it, along with the 1999 tv serial.
ReplyDeletePlease don't fade away, Jean. You would be much missed.
Charts.
ReplyDelete1968 a knitting booklet of baby garments being made for a workmate - shawl written pattern.
1978 knitted it again for my own first offspring and then the old Shetland one that we know so well. Still no charts that I knew of. So later than that.
I am doing the Shetland shawl again to keep my hands in trim. I charted the edging, but balked at the borders - it is quite struggle to go back to "written out" now that I have had practice at using charts.
Charts have been around since the first half of last century - but mostly in Denmark and Germany/Switzerland. Charts weren't common until the late 1990's although EZ was suggesting they should be. They make it so much easier to understand how a pattern fits together!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the info about how long charts have been around. Long before I had any software I did as you did, Jean, and wrote out charts. Mrs Laidlaw’s Pattern - so overwhelming line by line but clear and simple in charts.
ReplyDeleteCannot imagine knitting anything interesting without charts. I used to hate crocheting because they didn't have charted patterns. Though I do admit, I am more challenged by the crochet charts because I don't crochet as much.
ReplyDeleteThe shawl looks so beautiful - I think Perdita agrees:)!
And you are not fading, you are conserving energy for the important things in life!